Two quick and cute stories:
Recently, our son has learned how to say ‘car.’ It comes out double as “car car” but its a new word that he’s good with! We took him through the toy aisles of the local Wal*mart. He ran down the one with the motor mini cars, you know, the Powerwheels? He took one look at them, pointed and said “Car! Car!” It took ages to get him to be happy with a smaller (less expensive car) toy, but we now know what he’s hopefully getting in a year or two… Lol

Another funny thing happened recently, too. We asked him offhand the other big if he was ready for bed. He burbled back “waywee.” We thought it was cute but were shocked when he climbed into bed. A few days ago, we asked him if he was ready for something else, and again, he replied “waywee.” It’s safe to assume that our almost two year old is now a talker! So excited that he’s decided to finally start repeating. He’s understood a lot of speech for almost a year now, following directions and whatnaught, but this is pure evidence that he is understanding what he’s saying now. Now if we can only transition this into potty training…

Years ago, I got to sample this at a food store and loved it. Since then, I’ve refined and tweaked it so much that it became another signature dish of mine. It will last a family of three about two days (if you eat like we do) and is more like a simple spaghetti casserole than anything else. I hope you enjoy it!

What you’ll need:

1 box ziti noodles
1 jar of Classico portobello mushroom and olive sauce
1/2 jar water (from the Classico jar)
1 large can of olive (cut or whole – if whole break them up)
1 large can of mushrooms -bits and stems works fine
1 large package of beef tips (if you’re on a budget, stew meat works well if you cook it tender enough)
1 can Parmesan cheese
1 small bag of mozzarella cheese

Preheat your oven to 350 and grease up a 9×12 glass baking dish
While your noodles cook, brown your meat
Once browned, drain and add the sauce and water to the meat, continuing to cook the juices in
Add your olives and mushrooms and cook the mix down some (not thick and not soupy)
Once your noodles are done, drain them and add the Parmesan cheese to them and mix well
Pour the noodles into the baking dish and once the meat mix is done, pour that over it
Cover thoroughly with the mozzarella and a little more Parmesan
Put into oven and bake until the cheese is golden brown

Last pregnancy, I failed my one hour test for gestational diabetes and ended up needing to take the three hour test to make sure I was clear. I was, thankfully. Well, last week, I took my one hour for Nathan and once more, I failed it! Now tomorrow I am stuck going to take another three hour test. For those of you who don’t know what that entails, you need to fast 8 hours before-hand, then while on an empty stomach, drink a glucose drink which is basically just highly concentrated sugar water. Hopefully you hold that down for the needed one hour before they draw your blood. For the three hour test, it is basically the same thing, but instead of one hour, you wait three hours while needing to have your blood drawn at least two-three times during the wait. Last week was icky enough, but I’m not sure I can go 11 hours no food or drink (other than water and ice chips) without getting sick. But, this is a much needed test that is important to take. It can help save your life and your baby’s life. If you are on the fence about having this test, I recommend biting the bullet and have it done. For more information on G.D., please ask your OB/GYN and do your <a href="http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/gestational/what-is-gestational-diabetes.html&quot; title="research"research. 🙂

So, we’ve lived at out apartment for a year and a half and I got it in my mind to share the brownies I made with our neighbors. We’ve never interacted or met really, but I wanted to be nice and maybe make a friend or two. So I took over half of a fresh baked tray on a plate and they seemed shocked, but happy. I left it at that, not really expecting to get anything in return. Well, at ten last night, someone knocks at our door. Very strange because no one ever visits us. Wouldn’t you know it? One of them had a birthday and brought my plate back with three pieces of the most moist chocolate cake for us; one for Linden, Daddy Snort, and myself! I hadn’t had an appetite all day other than for a few bananas, tea, and pretzels (thank you random moment of all day ‘morning’ sickness) but had no problem eating my one slice. I think it’s safe to say, I’m more than willing to share more of my food with them, and that I succeeded in making the friends I wanted. 🙂 With newfound friendly neighbors, we will see if I can’t make a cake and invite them over for Linden’s birthday on the 26th.

After an entire weekend we found the folder causing the issues with moving the site and fixed it! We now have our permanent home here and couldn’t be happier! We hope you will continue to enjoy the crafts, recipes, and stories that are shared here and follow our little family as we get ready to welcome lil’ snorter #2!

Start out on med high heat
Mix sugar, flour, and eggs until ‘soupy’ stirring whole time
Add salt then milk slowly and stir. You must stir the whole time and be careful or else it will burn or turn lumpy!
After pudding thickens, add your vanilla and coloring to brighten the mix
Take off of burner once pudding is thick and smooth
In the bottom of your heat resistant serving bowl, add a layer of sauce.
Add now a layer of wafers and bananas.
Repeat this layering process until the last layer on top of bowl is pudding

You can serve this dish warm/hot or cold. Remember, next day puddin’ is almost always better 😉

This is my family’s recipe with a spin. They don’t add the prosciutto, but I find that it adds a bit more of a rich flavor to it. Sure to be a family and crowd pleaser with its rustic country style flavor. Hope you enjoy!

Start on medium heat
Dry fry* bacon brown
Once bacon is browned, add tomatoes
Stir in the ketchup and Worstershire sauce and water
Turn heat to high and bring to slow boil, stirring
Once on a gentle rolling boil, add the okra and stir in
Let boil again, stirring so bottom won’t burn
Add the prosciutto and turn heat down to low to cook the sauce thick** remembering to stir and taste
Add more ketchup and Worstershire sauce as needed to flavor
Serve and enjoy!!

* dry fry – no oil or butter.
** if its not thickening to your liking fast enough, you can add a small amount of cornstarch

Take a long piece of aluminum foil. Take a 1/3 to 1/2lb of ground beef (not too lean or it will dry out) and form it into a large patty and place it in the middle of the foil. Season the meat with salt/pepper to flavor. I like to add some garlic powder and some Chicago Steak seasoning. Wash and peel 2 or 3 small potatoes and slice them evenly. Do the same with a couple of carrots or any other vegetable you prefer. My family likes to add some diced onions, but I do not. Layer the vegetable around and on top of the hamburger patty. Season the vegetable to your taste, then take the ends of the foil and bring them together fold it down leaving a small amount of space. Then close the sides, make sure to fold them up and in so that none of the juices get out. Place this on a cookie or baking sheet (I use a round pizza pan). Put them in the oven at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until the vegetables are soft and the meat cooked all the way. When finished carefully unfold the foil and use a slotted spoon to transfer to a plate. Garnish as you like, I use some A-1 steak sauce, others have used ketchup or even salad dressing. (I know weird family) But it a simple and quick meal to prep and all you have to do is throw the foil away and you are done with cleanup.